William J. Rowell (abt. 1824 - 1866)

Born about 1824 in Randolph County, Alabama, United States

Husband of Martha Ann (Kennedy) Pugh — married 25 Jan 1849 in Carroll County, Georgia

Descendants

Died 6 Jun 1866 at about age 42 in Winston County, Alabama, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Debby Black [send private message] and Thomas Rowell [send private message]

Biography

Private William Rowell served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 24 Jul 1862
Mustered out: June 20, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company E, 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry

Private William Rowell was a Prisoner of War during United States Civil War.

William was a Farmer.

William Rowell was born in Appalachia, in Alabama.

Early Life

Needs more research.

Marriage / Children

William married Martha Kennedy around 1848. No marriage record has yet been found.

In the 1850 census, William (age 25) was living with his wife Martha (26) and daughter Martha (1) in Randolph County, Alabama.^[1]

Military Service, Civil War

The following service facts are from William's service file. William served in the 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, one of the few Union Regiments from Alabama and the only one that was not comprised primarily of U.S. Colored Troops.^[2]

Name William J Rowell

Enlistment Age 38

Birth Date abt 1824

Civil War Cavalryman

Birth Place Randolph County, Alabama

Enlistment Date 24 Jul 1862

Enlistment Place Huntsville, Alabama

Enlistment Rank Private

Muster Date 12 Aug 1862

Muster Place Alabama

Muster Company K

Muster Regiment 1st Cavalry

Muster Regiment Type Cavalry

Muster Information Enlisted

Imprisonment Date 10 Mar 1865

Imprisonment Place Monroe's Cross Roads, North Carolina

Imprisonment Information Confined at Camp Chase

Side of War Union

Burial Place Winston Co., Alabama

Cemetery Rowell Cemty

Occupation Farmer

Additional Notes Wife: Martha Ann

Title Index to Compiled Military Service Records; Alabama Tories: The 1st Alabama Cavalry, U.S.A.; Various Cemetery listings on the internet

The following information is from Wiliam's record on Fold3.^[3]

William J. Rowell served in the 1st Alabama Cavalry:^[4]

Age: 38

Birthplace: Randolph Co., AL

Occupation: Farmer

Rank at enlistment: Private

Company Assignment: K

7/24/1862 Enlisted

Huntsville, AL

7/24/1862 Mustered In

Huntsville, AL

10/21/1863 On Detached Service

Marion Co., AL

left for recruiting.

1/24/1864 On Detached Service

Vicksburg, MS

as teamster in Sherman's expedition.

3/10/1865 Prisoner of War

Monroe's Crossroads, near Fayetteville, NC

6/12/1865 Discharged

Camp Chase, OH

William's records reflect both of these organizations: Company E, 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry and Company A, 1st Regiment, Middle Tennessee Cavalry

In the company descriptive book, William is described as follows:

Cavalry Trooper

Age: 38

Height: 5' 8-1/4"

Complexion: Light

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Sandy

Born: Randolph County, Alabama

Occupation: Farmer

William was on duty as a teamster in January 1863 and as a wagoner in February 1863.

From June to October 1863, the company muster roll states that William was absent, left in Marion County, Alabama on recruiting service, beginning October 24, 1863. This detail continued through December 1863.

Beginning on January 24, 1864, William was on detached service as a teamster in Sherman's expedition, "on order of Gen. Grierson."

In March and April 1864, William was detached service as an orderly at General Hatch's headquarters.

William was back with his unit in May 1864.

From December 31, 1864, to April 30, 1865, William was absent from his unit at Annapolis Maryland as a paroled prisoner of war.

William was captured on March 10, 1865, at Soloman Grove, North Carolina.

William was discharged from Camp Chase, Ohio on June 12, 1865, at the end of the war.

On a muster-out roll, William is listed with a muster-out date of June 20, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn.

On a regimental return record, William's duties and assignments are summarized as follows:

January - February 1863: Detached duty, teamster

October - December 1863: Detached, recruiting duty in Marion County, Alabama.

January 1864: Detached service at Vicksburg January 24, 1864, Returned from service in Marion Co. January 14, 1864, Camp Davies, Miss.

February 1864: Detached service, Vicksburg, Miss from January 24, 1864

April 1864: Detached as orderly to General Veatch from April 17, 1864

July 1864: Daily duty, regimental hospital

August 1864: Detached scout for General Vandever

November - December 1864: Daily duty, carpenter at Regimental QM

March - May 1865: Prisoner of war since March 10, 1865

Death / Burial

William died on Jun 6, 1866, and is buried at Rowell Cemetery, Marion County, Alabama, United States of America.^[5]

Wife Martha's Pension Application

Martha applied for a pension on 29 July 1890 in Alabama, based on Wililam's service.^[6] And again in 1891 in Alabama.^[7]

Research Notes

Family Recollections (Unsourced)
Bill Rowell died in the home of Jonathan Barton when murdered by a prisoner. Bill Rowell was a deputy. Jonathan had gone to check on the horses and Hannah Barton, Jonathan's wife, was in the kitchen preparing food. She heard a loud noise and rushed into the room, finding Bill on the floor in a pool of blood.

Some believe Bill was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Rowell. Others say they've found information on a John and Betsy Rowell. A descendant, Faye Evans, thinks these two couples may be the same two people.

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: MH5W-3PT : accessed 25 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-678T-PM
   William Rowell (25) in Randolph, Alabama, United States. Born in Georgia
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 1; Digital film/folder number: 004191539_001_M9CH-JYQ; FHL microfilm: 442865; Image number: 86; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01175-5.
2. ↑ Military Record: "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865," database
   (Ancestry Record 1555 #3292189 : accessed 25 October 2023)
   Name William J Rowell, Enlistment Age 38, Birth Date abt 1824, Birth Place Randolph County, Alabama, Enlistment Date 24 Jul 1862, Enlistment Place Huntsville, Alabama, Enlistment Rank Private, Muster Date 12 Aug 1862, Muster Place Alabama, Muster Company K, Muster Regiment 1st Cavalry, Muster Regiment Type Cavalry, Muster Information Enlisted, Imprisonment Date 10 Mar 1865, Imprisonment Place Monroe's Cross Roads, North Carolina, Imprisonment Information Confined at Camp Chase, Side of War Union, Burial Place Winston Co., Alabama, Cemetery Rowell Cemty, Occupation Farmer, Additional Notes Wife: Martha Ann, Title Index to Compiled Military Service Records; Alabama Tories: The 1st Alabama Cavalry, U.S.A.; Various Cemetery listings on the internet
   citing Historical Data Systems, Inc., Duxbury, MA 02331, American Civil War Research Database.
3. ↑ Military Service Record – Fold3:"US, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Alabama, 1861-1865," The National Archives, Pub No. M276, CatID 300398, Rcd Grp 94, Roll 8. Total 29 pages in file, imaged at fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/6681809 : accessed October 1, 2023)
4. ↑ http://www.1stalabamacavalryusv.com/Roster/Troopers.aspx?trooperid=1936
5. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74794081/william-j-rowell: accessed 06 December 2023), memorial page for William J Rowell (unknown–6 Jun 1866), Find A Grave: Memorial #74794081, citing Rowell Cemetery, Marion County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Terry Oxendine Beam (contributor 47571787)
6. ↑ Pension: "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917," database
   (FamilySearch Record: NHK3-WQM : accessed 25 October 2023)
   http://www.fold3.com/document.php?doc=100109&xid=215&p=ma
   Name William J. Rowell, Pension Date 29 Jul 1890, Pension Place Alabama, United States, Miitary Unit Cavalry, Mil Regiment 1, Source File Name 99435, Ship Company Name F
   citing Affiliate Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Affiliate Publication Title: Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900; Affiliate Publication Number: T289; Affiliate Film Number: 99435.
7. ↑ Pension: "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: QJDP-S1RF : accessed 25 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GT15-DKN Image number 01795
   Name William J Rowell, Pension Date 1891, Pension Place Alabama, United States
   citing Affiliate Publication Title: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Affiliate Publication Number: T288; Affiliate Film Number: 406; Digital film/folder number: 005082718; FHL microfilm: 000541162.